Apparatus for exhausting wells



April 29, 1930. c. A. ANDERSON APPARATUS FOR EXHAUSTING WELLS Filed May22, 1928 IN VEN TOR. CHA El. 55' /-7. HNDERSON- 3 BY f r W ATTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 29, 1930 I PATENT OFFICE CHARLES A. mnnson, or LOSANGELES, CALIFORNIA APPARATUS FOR EXHAUSTING WELLS Application filed May22,

This invention relates to certain improvements on an apparatus forexhausting wells disclosed in my prior application filed November25,1925 and bearing Ser. No. 71,290,

5 patented July 30, 1929,#1,722,552.

In this prior application I disclose an a paratus for lifting fluidsfrom deep wells y air pressure. This apparatus. includes an airinduction pipe which extends downwardly into the well and fitted at itslower end with a discharge nozzle. The upper end of the induction pipeis connected with an air reservoir to which air .under pressure may bedelivered from any suitable source. All auto matic control valvecontrols the discharge of air'from the reservoir to the induction pipe,-

which valve operates automatically to admit air from the reservoir tothe induction pipe when the pressure in the reservoir reaches themaximum working pressure. This valve,

however, also automatically closes to interruptcommunication between thereservoir and the induction pipe-when the pressure in thereservoir dropsbelow the minimum working pressure, which is considerably less than themaximum working pressure? The apparatus just described discharges theair under pressure'below the fluid level in the well.

- This air discharging upwardly lifts the fluid in the well. c

In the present instance it is my object to increase the efficiency ofthis device by the provision of additional means for forcingthe oilbrcontents of the'well upwardly by cre- 3 ating an air pressure on thefluid and causing this. pressure to pass into the eduction pipe toassist the air discharge "nozzle in lifting the fluid.

One form which the invention may assume 40 is exemplified inthe'following description 1928. Serial No. 279,764.

ment with the eduction pipe 11*. The'joint between the T 14: and theflange 14 is, of course, fluid-tight. At its upper end the T 14 isfitted with a packing gland structure 14:"- through which the airinduction pipe 15 extends. This packing gland structure 14 preventstheleakage of fluid through the T 14 around the air induction pipe 15.The outlet of the T 14:, indicated by the numeral 14, may be connectedto a pipe line through which it is desired to discharge the contents ofthe well.

The lower end of the air induction pipe 15 extends below the fluid levelin the well and is fitted with an air discharge nozzle 16 which is inthe shape of ,an inverted cone. nozzle is formed with a plurality ofupwardly directed discharge ports 17 arranged in spaced relation aroundthe upper face of the nozzle exteriorly of the induction pipe 15 withthe interior of which they communicate.

From this description it is manifest that air under pressure dischargeddownwardly This through the air induction pipe 15 will dischargeupwardly through the ports 17 below the fluid level in thewell. This airby natural expansion and pressure will lift the fluid in the eductionpipe 11 and cause it to discharge through the outlet 14 of the T 145*.

The present apparatus includes means for intermittently discharging airunder pressure'within the well through the pipe 15. This permits thewell to fill up after each. operation and also renders the use of largecapacity air pumps and'accompanying equip ment unnecessary.

To accomplish this I provide a storage tank 18 to which air underpressure may be deliv-. ered by a small air compressor ofany standarddesign (diagrammatically illustrated in the drawing). The pipe linebetween the compressor and tank 18 is fitted with a safety valve 19which is adapted to open after a predetermined pressure has been builtup in the tank. For example, it will be assumed that the maximum workingpressure is 250 pounds and that the safety valve will open at. 260pounds to prevent any excessive pressure to be built up in the tank.

The tank 18 is also fitted with a discharge pipe 20 which connects witha T fitting 21. One leg of this fitting is connected with a dischargepipe 21 and the other leg with an automatic control valve 22. This valve.is controlled by a spring 23 which will permit the valve to open whenthe pressure in the tank equals the working pressure. When this valve isopened air under pressure will pass through the valve and into a pipe 24which communicates with the operating cylinder 25 of a main cut-offvalve 26. This operating cylinder 25 is fitted with aspringpressedplunger 27 which will rise when a predetermined pressure isbuilt upin the pipe 24. The pressure required to elevate the plunger 27being the minimum working pressure which in the present instance is 100pounds. .That is, the plunger 27 will remain elevated as long as apressure of 100 pounds is exerted thereon. The plunger 27 is 35.. valve-26 will open and when the plunger connected by a .link 28 to theoperating arm 29 of the main cut-ofl valve 26 which controls the passageof 511- through the .discharge pipe 21 which connects the tank 18 withthe eduction pipe 14. This connection is such that when the plunger 27rises the lowers the valve 26 will close. I

The cylinder 25 also connects with the induction pipe 15. Aeheck. valve31 isinterposed between the pipe 15 and the cylinder 25 so that pressurepassing into the cylinder 25 through'the pipe 24 will not pass into the.

pipe 15. However, when the main valve 26 1s opened the pressure willopen the valve and place the cylinder 25 into communication withthe'pipe 15.

Therefore, as long as the pressure in the pipe 15 is above 100 poundsthe plunger 27 -Will remain raised and maintain the main sure of 100pounds which is required to main-v tain the plunger 27 elevated in thecylinder 25.

It is obvious that under proper working conditions whentheapparatu's isin operation air will be discharged under pressure through the nozzle16, causing the fluid in the well to be lifted and discharged throughthe T 14*.

To assist this lifting action I provide'a, pressure line 33 which is incommunication at one end with the top of the well casing and at itsupper end with the pipe line 21 andthe induction pipe 15.- From thedrawing it will be noticed that a cross 34 is provided to form aconnection between the cylinder 25, pipe 21*, the induction pipe 15 andthe pressure .line 33. This pressure line 33 is provided with a controlvalve 35. The pressure line is also connected by a pipe 36'to thecylinder 25.

. The connection between the pipe 36 and the cylinder 25 is at a pointabove the plunger 27 in the cylinder 25 when the latter is in itslowered position. Therefore, when the plunger-27 is in its loweredposition maintaining the valve 26 closed, the interior of the wellcasing 10 will be in communication with the atmosphere through the pipelines 33, 36 and the cylinder 25.-

It will be noticed that the upper end of the cylinder is open.Therefore, the pressure in the casing at such a time will beatmospheric. However, when theplunger 27 rises due to pressure beingbuilt up in pipe line 24, communication-between the pipe 36 and theatmosphere will be automatically cut-off and when the valve 26 isopened, pressure from the reservoir will in addition to passing down theinduction pipe 15 pass through the pipe line 33into the well casing'lO.As the upper end of this casing is closed and fluid-tight, a

pressure will be built up on'thefiuid causing the fluid to pass into theeduction pipe through the check valve fitting 37 at the lower endthereof. Thus, by building up the air pressure the nozzle 16 will gbeassisted in its lifting action so as to render. the device veryeflicient in lifting fluid. I

When the pressure in the reservoir becomes below the minimum workingpressure, the

plunger 27 will descend in cylinder 25 establishing communicationbetweenthe pipe 36 a and the atmosphere through the open upper end of thecylinder 25. Thus, the pressure in the casing will be relievedpermitting the well to refill.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The air compressor isoperated to de liver compressed air to the tank '18, it being assumedthat the valves 22 and 26 are closed. The air compressor will continueto deliver air to the tank 18 until the pressure therein reaches themaximum of working pressure of 250 pounds. -At this point the valve 22will open and admit air through the pipe 24'to the cylinder 25. This airunder pressure will raise the plunger 27 and through the medium willdischarge through the ports 17 in the nozzle 16 at the lower end of thepipe and through natural expansion and pressure will elevate the liquidin the well and discharge it through the T 14*.

In addition to the lifting action of the air dischargin through thenozzle 16, air will discharge rom the pipe 21 through the pipe line 33into the upper end of the casing creating a pressure, on the fluid inthe well and causing it to pass into and upwardly into the eductionpipe11 As soon as-the-pressure in the tank 18 becomes below the maximumworking pressure of 250 pounds, the valve 22 will close. This, however,will not afiect the plunger 27 as communication will be established fromthe induction pipe 15 through the check valve 31 to the cylinder 25 andact against the plunger 27 As this plunger will remain elevated as longas a pressure of 100 pounds is exerted thereagainst the main valve 26will be maintained open until the pressure ip the tank drops below theminimum working pressure of 100 pounds.

When this low pressure has been reached the plunger 27 will lower andclose the valve 26, thereby entirely disconnecting the air tank 18 fromthe induction pipe 15.

Communication will be automatically reestablished between the tank 18and the in duction pipe 15 as soon as the air compressor builds up thepressure in the tank 18 to the maximum working pressure 0f'250 pounds.At this point the operation will be just as described until the pressurein the tank drops below the minimum workingpressure. The communicationbetween the tank 18. and the pipes 15 and 33 will then again beautomatically interrupted as described.

It is intended that the uantit charged at each operation e su cient toelevate all the. liquid in the well above the nozzle 16 at the lower endof the pipe 15. Therefor during the interruption in the operation 0 theapparatus the well will have opportunity to fill up again to the normallevel therein. By constructing the apparatus according to my invention avery inexpensive device can be built to raise liquid from considerabledepths. Also the device will be comparatively inexpensive to constructdue to the fact that avery simple air compressing apparatus may beemployed.

The present apparatusis capable of use in connection with deep oil wellsand also may be used for elevating water from deep wells in dry aridlands. It would be particularly applicable for usein desert countrieswhere water must be lifted from great depths. In the latter useawindrnill may be provided for operating the air compressor.

This would provide very economical means for elevating water from wells.

While I have shown the preferred form of myinvention, it is to beunderstood that various changes may be made in its construction withoutdeparting lfrom the spirit of the invention as defined in the appendedclaim. Having thus described my invention, what ,I claim and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is An apparatus for lifting liquids from deepwells comprising an induction pipe extending downwardly into said wellbelow the fluid level therein, a discharge nozzle .at the lower end ofsaid induction pipe, an eduction pipe extendingdownwardly around theinduction pipe to a point below the nozzle, a check valve at the lowerend of said eduction pipe, said well having a casing with a closed upperend downwardly into which said eduction and induction pipes extend, .anair reservoir adapted to contain air under pressure, means connectingthe upper end of the well casing and the induction pipe with saidreservoi'r, a valve controlling said connection. I

means whereby said valve will be automati'-- I ressure in said re's-vcally opened when the ervoir reaches a pre etermmed pressure,

means whereby-said valve will be automati cally closed and the wellcasing placed in communication with the atmosphere when the pressure insaid reservoir drops below a predetermined pressure.

CHARLES A. ANDERSON.

of air dis-

